The Scott-fetzer Company

David J Karpanty

Jack L Burgoon

A scrubbing machine is provided in which cleaning solution, usually mostly water, is cleaned and recirculated. The machine includes a frame supported on wheels with at least one scrubbing brush supported by the frame. A squeegee and vacuum hose are located behind the scrubbing brush for removing water from the surface which was supplied to the surface near the scrubbing brush. A recovery tank and a supply tank are supported on the frame with the vacuum hose communicating with the recovery tank. An exhaust blower also communicates with the recovery tank and draws air and water through the exhaust hose and into the recovery tank, exhausting air therefrom. The recovery tank has baffles which form a tortuous path to separate the air and dirty water as they travel through the recovery tank in the path from one end to the other. The recovery tank is separated into two chambers with most water and dirt received in the first chamber in which the dirt settles to the bottom, and cleaner water flows over an upper edge of a separating wall into the second chamber. The water in the second chamber can then be pumped to a dirt separator located in the first chamber and from there back to the supply tank from which water and a detergent, if used, are supplied to the vicinity of the scrubbing brush.

Scrubbing machine with liquid recirculation

A machine for cleaning floors is provided and more particularly a riding machine which both sweeps and scrubs the floors. The machine has a rotary drum broom near the front and three staggered disc brushes at an intermediate portion. The drum broom is rotatably carried by two arms which are pivotally mounted on a frame or body of the machine. A hopper for receiving dirt and debris from the drum broom is also moveably mounted on the arms in front of the broom. A linkage and lever mechanism is used to rotate the arms to raise and lower the broom and the hopper simultaneously when the cleaning machine is driven from one location to another. A squeegee assembly is carried by the machine behind the disc brushes for picking up the dirty solution, clean solution being first supplied to the disc brushes and to the floor. A tank for supplying clean solution and a tank for receiving dirty solution from the floor are also located on the machine above the rotary drum broom and at least one of the tanks is tiltable to the side for access to components of the machine located therebelow.

Floor cleaning machine

A squeegee assembly is provided for a scrubbing machine. The squeegee assembly is mounted in a manner such that it can separate from the machine to avoid damage in the event the assembly encounters a stationary object. The mounting arrangement includes a mounting plate which can be raised and lowered. The squeegee assembly is frictionally connected to the mounting plate so as to move therewith and be supported thereby but so that the squeegee assembly can separate rearwardly relative to the mounting plate to prevent damage. The squeegee assembly includes a squeegee blade supporting member with quick-release bands. The bands clamp a squeegee blade between the supporting member and the bands with the squeegee blade requiring no special attaching provisions at all, not even mounting holes. The bands have quick-release latches so that the blades can be easily and quickly removed and replaced, when necessary.

Growing community of inventors

Toledo, OH, United States of America

David J Karpanty